Sidewalk door



Aug. 27, 1935. w LOVATT 2,012,885

S'IDEWALK DOOR Filed April 19, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 MWTNVENTOR WITNESSES 2 kfohzg wzllliamzovaii ATTORN EY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. W. LOVATT SIDEWALK DOOR Filed April 19, 1954 ATTORN EY ML m M W n M BY may Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UET STATES PAT ENT =OFFICE- I 2,012,885 P 1 'sImiWALK noon John William Lovatt, Paterson, N. J. p, 7 .Application April 19, 1934, Serial No. #21377 rclai s. (01.94436) This invention relates to doors and what may betermed a sidewalk door, the-object being to provide a construction which may be used in sidewalks and other places and present a con- 1 struction which will have a number of advantages including being substantially waterproof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door for sidewalks, hatchways, man- I holes, vaults or in any interior orexterior opening, horizontal, perpendicular or sloping, and presenting a substantially safe, non-slipping flush-type structure which is reasonably air and waterproof as well as noiseless and sanitary.

U A further object of the-invention' is'to providea door for sidewalks and the like wherein all the parts of the door are flush with the sidewalk or other surface on which the door is mounted, and at the same time in which means are provided for reinforcing and supporting the door so as to resist pedestrian traffic or even heavier traffic.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sidewalk door or the like with-a specially formed hinge which will be flush with the relocking structure and. a-key which" will act as a handle for the door and function tomaintain the door unlocked as long as the handle is in use, and to cause the door to be locked when the handle is removed. 7 I? In the accompanying drawings 1 Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sidewalkdoo disclosing an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through Figurel r approximately on the line 2-2;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the door with certain parts broken away and one shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an edge view of the structure shown I t in Figure 3; 1

on a greatly enlarged scale;-

Figure 5 is asectional view through Figure the same being taken on the line 5- 5; V

Figure 6 is .a sectional view through Figure- 3 j on the line 66; l v V Figure 7 is a fragmentary view features of the invention; Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view though Figure '1 on the line '88, the same being of the hinges I niche of the door members with a. gasket disclosing certain Figure 9 is .a sectional view through Figure 8 on the line199; i v

Figure 10 is a top plan view of thestructure shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective view member used in'the lock illustrated 'in Figures 8 and 9; r

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the plug use in the lock shown in Figure 8; r r

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewthrough Figure 1 on the line 13 -13; Figure 14.is a side view of the entire door as shown in Figure l'before the concrete'has been} cast around the same, the view illustrating how leveling screws are used to properly position the door frame before the concrete or other filling isused. 3 Innthe accompanying drawings an embodiment of the invention is disclosed, whichis shown as a sidewalk door arrangedin a'sidewalk formed of concrete or similar material. The invention may be applied specifically as shown in the draw-v ings,or maybe embodiedin manhole covers, vault doors, or other constructions without d e-i parting from. the spirit of the invention, and the expression sidewalk door is intended to cover the sidewalk, cellar or otherfcompartment; Em

bedded in part of the sidewalkandsurrounding the1opening'2 is a-frame3 formed of angle" iron with a vertical leg arranged parallel to the side walls of the opening Zthough, if desired, it could overhangthis opening or'even be set back therefrom. The otherleg forms a horizontal support ingstructure on which suitable supporting bars 4 are mounted and secured'in placeby any means as, for instancalrivets or screws 5 (Fig. 9) These barsoare'oifset as indicated at 6 so that when 0011- i crete is-applied' it will not be in contact with the cover plates 1 forming part of the doors 8 and 9. The bars 4 extend entirely around the opening 2 onthe horizontal leg of the frame except at the hinge portions, and present a supporting structure for taking up the weight of the door which is transmitted from the respective cover plates'l. The samegeneral arrangement is made at the center, namely, a transversesupporting bar 4 is riveted to'the cover plate I ofdoor 9, and tothis baris riveted an inverted supporting channel t iron Id. The channel iron II] has the upper surfaceflush with the upper surface of the'frame 37 of the core 1o and the lower edges positioned to rest on the bars or lugs I i welded to theframe at each end thereof.

, It will be noted that the lugs II are arranged poured, or during thesetting of the frame short' sections of channel iron I6 are welded to the frame 3 near each corner of the frame, and through each of. these short sections extendfadjusting bolts I! which engage a suitable surface therebelow as shown in Figs. 2'and 14, whereby the frame maybe properly leveled. After the frame has been properly leveled the concrete is poured and acts as a support for the frame and also acts to hold the frame in'proper' position as it is, substantially embedded in the. concrete. After the frame has been properly set the .doors 8,:1and 9l are applied. .:.It will be noted: that the doors 8 and .91 are preferably;removed before the frame is set and reapplied afterwards. This allowstheworkmen tohave access to both the inside and the outside of .thefram during the. setting thereon v. v 1 ,1

Arranged alongside of the supportingbars 4 are gaskets ,l 8, and arranged alongside of the supporting 'bar 4!. are gasketslfl'and 18. All of these gaskets are. identical in construction and are formedsasshown in Fig.7.

. .1 As illustrated irrFi'g. 7'the gasket is formed with a rubber body I9 having a concave upper surface 23, a recessed portion 21' and downwardly projecting parallel ribs 22 and 23-." In addition,

the metal plate 24 is fitted into the depression 2| and extends for the full length of the depression.

This plate, is provided atsuitable intervals with threaded apertures for receiving the respective screws 25, which screws extend through the cover plate of the re'spectivedoors. In Fig. 5 the gasket I is" shown as'applied to a door when in its final functioning'position. Thescrew' 25, is operated until the bar 24 is pulled upwardly sufiiciently to cause the concave part 20 to fit flatwiseagainst the cover plate, as illustrated particularlyjin Figs. 8 and 9.. This causes. the edge portions .26 and 21. to fit tightly against the cover plate and,'in. addition, causes the ribs 22 and '23 to incline slightly inwardly. These'ribswhen the screw'has. been completely tightened.- extend normally slightly below the. supporting plates 4,.so that when the doors 8 and!) are'closed: these ribs will be somewhat compressed: and thereby present a1 watertight and'even airtight seah. However, the

ranged interiorl'y of the bar 4 and are consequently protected from the elementsto a large extent by these bars. It will be understood that'the frame 3, bars 4', cover plates I and associated partsare formed from steel of any desired grade,- for instance, ordinary open hearth steel. Also, these ;members are madefromicommercial stock and consequently may becut readily tofit any size of opening so that any. sized door may be readily applied without formingnew patterns or secur-f ing new castings.

Informing the hinges there are provided oer tain sockets and other members which may be forged or, if desired, may bev cast because they are always of the same size and may be used either with a large or a small door. All the hinges 12 to IE, inclusive, are identical in construction and therefore a description of hinge l5 will apply to all of the hinges. In forming the hinge there is provided either a forging or a casting 28 which is formedwith what may be termed a socket 29 having a thickened portion 33, a flange 3| and a bracing web 32, said flange being bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the frame 2. The socket 29, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is provided with a chamber 33 and with portions 34 and 35 which extend above the frame 3 so as to receive the respective hinge blocks 36 and 37. The hinge blocks are each provided with openings 38 for receiving a pintle 39, and also with an extension 40 for receiving the respective screws 4|, which screws extend through the extensions and also through the frame?) so as tdreadily clamp the hinge blocks in place.

of a coverplate 1 whereby the top of the cover plate is flush with the, top of the upper part of the hinge block. It will be noted further that these two hinge blocks are held in place by screws which are: coveredzby the cover plate when the.

doorsareplosed. Arranged between the'blocks 36 and 31 is a hinge'block or knuckle 43 which with a. straight shoulder 46 adapted to fit flatwiseagainst the shoulder 41 of the thickened. portion 39 whenthe door is closed. In addition; there. is a'hook48-adapted to rest against the outerv under surface 49 of frame 3, as shown in dotted.

linesinxFig. 2,when the door is'open. Part of the upper surface of the block '43 will restagainst the thickened portion 30 and hook 48 will engage,

the surface when the door isfully opened, thus taking up most of the strain at these two points. The parts are intended to fit rather snugly so that very little water or foreign matter can enter,

but ifwanjiwater should enter it will flow out through the vent'opening 50.

- By reason .ofthis construction and arrangement theframe 3 may be readily-setas illustrated in-Fig. l4:and the doors; applied later. It will be observed that all exposed .parts are flush with the pavementand there are p actically no defor otherpurposes. This makes a very eiiicient and tight door-structure which will support comparatively heavy weights by reason .of its being supported-not only around the outer edges but at the center. When the doors areopen guard rails may biused, the same being of theusual kind and positioned with the. hook endsthereof. extending through the respective openings 5! and 52 of the angle iron 53 and the channeliron l9. Preferably there 'is provided at each "end of the channel iron If! an openingand also a corresponding openingin the angle iron 53 so that there may be a guard iron or rail at each end of the'door.

:m doors o'fthis kind various forms of locks havebeen provided, :andalso various forms ofhandles for opening the doorswhen necessary.

In-the presentinvention an improved combined handle and locking structure is. provided which. efliciently l'ocksthe door, and at the same time.

It, will benoted that each' of thehinge blocks is provided with a depression or,notch.42'so formed as to receive theedge pressions or openings'for the drainage of water or provides a handle foropening-tli'e dooriwhen' theflange 58,fi tting into a. suitable-.g-roovei'inlithe:

core59 which is rotatably mountedin the house. ing. .This .core is provided withta substantially rectangular opening 60, as shownin' Fig.;11,;said opening extending from the upper .:end down:

wardlyia certain distance. A plug 6| .coacts'with. the core 59 an'dlisprovidedwithatubularl-memw her or sleeve 62; slidinglyfitting into itheyjcore 63 of core 59, said sleeve; merging-Qinto radiating flanges 64 and 65. and anupwardly projecting per-.1 tion66 which normallyfills the opening 6'|.in the cover platel. The portion 66 is providedgwithra; rectangular depression 68 for. receiving a; similarly. shaped projection 69 on the handle;-

The handle 10 is providedwith a rib .i provided with a stem 12 which mergesintolaterally extending lugs Band 14, said lugswithpartof V the-stem 12 being formed to slide into theopenr' ing 60 in the core 59. Asubstantially rust-proof spring is arranged in the bore 63 and extends upwardly intothe sleeve 62 so as tonormally hold.

the various parts in the position shown in Fig.8, with the-flanges 64 and65 pressing againstthe under surface of part ofcthe-cover. plate. 1.

When it is desired to operate the lock and open the door, the handle 10 is positioned as shown in Fig. 8 and then moved downwardly until the.

square member 69 fits into the socket 68. The parts are then forced downwardly until the lugs 13 and 14 have entered the chamber 60, whereupon the grip H is rotated for part of a revolution. During this rotation the lugs 13 and 14 will cause the core 59 to rotate a similar distance. This core, has a tapering shank 16 which the locking arm 11 is secured to by a bolt or other suitable device, said locking arm being adapted to be swung around to a position beneath the lug H or away from that position. When the parts are as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the locking arm 11 is in locked position, but when it is turned a quarter of a revolution it is in an unlocked position and the lugs 13 and 14 are fitted beneath the overhanging parts of the plate 1, so that the grip ll may be pulled and the door readily opened. The door cannot be closed until the lock has been moved to locked position and, consequently, when the door is opened the handle 10 is in place. The handle acts at this time as a handle and may be used to swing the door back and forth as often as desired. When the door is swung to closed position the handle is rotated a quarter of a revolution until the locking arm 11 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 9, whereupon the handle may be readily removed as the lugs 13 and 14 cannot be accidentally left in place to present an obstruction to pedestrians or to any object.

. Only one lock has been shown and the same applied to a door 9, but, if desired, the lock could be applied to door 8 at the opposite end without departing from the spirit of the invention.

This housing is open for the full'zdiameter of;

afItiwill-ibez.observed-what by reason .or thezcon i 'struction presented a very satisfactory .doorezisa provided, and allextra gutters .and other means forcatchingiwater and draining the samelhave;

been eliminated. It willalso be ,notedjthatithe;

door may. beimanufactured in a'veryWeconomical manner as all the: metal: parts except the hinges; are ;-fabricated fromcommercial rolled steel sections andthereby adaptthedoor to be made3for' any-size op'eningwithout thegnecessity of making individual patterns. Also, the formation of th,e, door in thismanner. permits repairs to be :made at minimumexpense in case the door should be; damaged atany time. Also, the making ofgthedoor;;of structural steel instead of. castings will; cause the door to be substantially nonbreakable as well, as sturdy andsubstantial in allits parts. Byusing the gasketsasspecified long lifeis se-,1

cured and a substantially; noiseless waterproof and ai frtight closure ,is provided, as the weight I is not; carried by the gaskets but by theproperlymade supportingflbars carried directly. by th e,- frame... Itdsevidentthat the door maybe madet of j any size and. with four hinges, as shown Fig-14, or with, a larger ,or ,lessnumber, without departingfrom the spirit of the. invention.

In, forming theframe 3 and the hi fisior, hingedly mounting the door, members, itwill be; observed that no part of the frame or coverplates arecut awaytc accommodatethe hinges but-on the? on rar r-t a tsam ns uct d that the hinges work efficiently, though fiush when the 5 door, members are closed; In addition, the hinge. structure, is'jso formed that in. case Of injury or. damage of any kind, access may be readily had to all parts of the hinge without cutting and defacing the material in which the door is set and g 1 without injuring any of the parts whatever. In

many sidewalk doors the concrete in which the door is embedded must be cut away in order to gain access to the hinges, but in the hinge dlS-r closed in the present invention this is not necessary and, in fact; the parts are so formed that very easy access is had thereto. The hinges and door members are so formed and positioned that they completely cover the steel frame and thereby add a certain amount of safety to all parts.

hinged to said frame, and means arranged .cen-

trally of the frame for supporting the door members along a. central line. s

2. A sidewalk door including a frame, a pair of door members'hinged to said frame andformed of a size to meet along a central line, a lug connected to saidframe at each end, and a supporting bar connected to one of said door members and positioned to rest on said lugs, the other door member overlapping said bar when closed whereby when the door members are closed they will be supported on said frame along each edge and by said bar at the center of the frame.

3. In a door of the character described, a frame, a door member adapted to be carried by said frame, and a gasket structure for providing a tight connection between the frame and the door clamping thepstriprof rubber againstctfi t'door member.:- i v 4, In a. sidewalk doonairame a door member. associated with the frame, andazhingefor. eon nectingthe doonmember with the frizr'ne, said hinge including "a socket structure carried-by the frame, said socket structure having an abutment, a pintle support carriedby the frame 'andiextending into said socket structure,- a pintle carried by the pintle support; and vaknuckle carried by said door memben flsaid knuckle having-a beveledex tension projecting intosaid'socket and positioned. so that the beveled portion of said extension win strike said abutment when-said door-memberis c1osed,: said knuckle also 7 having an aperture 7 ms aceom'rnodatinglsaidpintle. 1 w 5. A device of the character described comprising-a hingehaving-asocket formed with an 'overhanging abutmentgia pa'irof "pintle barsextend-- ing' to-a position foroverlapping-said socket, said pintle bars each having a pintle'receiving aperture, a pintleeictendin-gthrough said pintie bars;

a hinge knuckle-having a beveledextension projecting into saidsoeket -and positionedso that the beveled portion- A of the extension will strike said abutment when the hinge is fully closed, said knuckle also being arrangedbetween said 'pintle bars and pivotally mounted on said pint1e.

6. In a hinge-citric character described; a. socket structure having a central arc'eshaped I depressed portion formed with "a thickened portion havingan inclined *wall an 'apertured flange adapted to receive securing means for 'securi'ng' tfiefsooket {to an object; and a reinforcing web-"- acumen connecting: the flange'rto the-remaining part or the'socket itructure, apa-iriof pintle blocks, each pintleblock being substantially L-shaped with a screw receiving aperture in one arm of the block and a pintle'reciving, aperinire'i'n the other arm, seidrblocks-being spaced apart with thepintle receiving arm =extending into 1 said socket and against said inclined wall, a. hinge knuckle having an extension fitted between thatpart of the pair or -"blocks having the screw receiving apertures, and a' head fltting'betw'een the remaining part of said. pintle blocks, said headhaving a pintle receiving-aperture, an inclined well adapted to co tact with the-inclined wall of the'socket, and ahook extension, and a. pintleextending through said: b locksandthroug'h. said knuckle for swing to said-door members and'position'ed to engage the topsurfaee of :said frame when the door memare closed for providing a "substantially watertight oonne'oti'onbetween' the door members and the frame,=an'd removably mounted supporting bars connected to'said frame and positioned to engage said door'members when closed for transmitting the strain from the doormembers to the frame; said" supporting bars being proportioned to eaus'e p'artof the: weight of the door and part by said supporting bars;

f I LOVAT'I'. I

members to besupported by the gasket structure 

